Contactor



Nov. 24, 1931. R. cARlcHor-' I 1,833,735

com-Aaron original Filedvec.. 1. i927 i Invenborr gehe R'Carch PatentedNov. 24, 19.31

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE EUGENE B. CABICHOFF, OF SCEZZNECTADY, NEWYORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEG TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKCONTACTOR Original application led December 1, 1927, Serial No.237,075.. Divided. and this application led October 17, 1928. Serial No.313,118.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 237,07 5, tiled Decem- V ber 1,1927.

My invention relates to circuit controlling devices, particularly of theelectromagnetically operated type and the present invention comprisesvarious new and useful improvements in the circuit controlling switchlmechanism itself and also the magnetic blowout arrangement associatedtherewith.

Among the principal objects of the invention are to increase the currentcarrying and arc interrupting capacities of the switch mechanism, and toimprove the construction thereof so as to render both manufacture .andmaintenance of the switch in service relatively simple and inexpensive.

The several improvements of the invention are particularly' advantageouswhenembodied in a multiple pole alternating current contactor such asillustrated in the accom-7 panyin drawing, athough various features ofthe invention may be utilized separately in other forms of switches withequal advantage whenever desired.

In the drawings Fig. `1 is a front view of a three pole alternatingcurrent contactor embodying the improvements of the present invention intheir preferred form. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the contactor shownin Fig. 1 along the lines 2- -2. Fig. 3 is a sectional view 'of therotatable shaft which carries the movable switch members and the movablemagnetic member of the electromagnet. Fig. 4 is a side view showing thedetailed construction of the contact fingers and the magnetic blowoutprovided for each pole of the contactor with certain parts broken awayin order to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

The cont-actor shown in Fig. 1 comprises the movable switch members 10,11 and 12 ed upon the base 20.' `Base 2O preferably is `net has astationary frame 21, a movable ar-` mature 22, and i an operatingvWinding 23. The armature 22 of the electromagnet is mounted upon thearm 25 which 'is removably secured to the shaft 13 by means of the bolts36 and a spacing plug 43. It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the shaft13 is formed of molded insulating material in channel truss shape with aplurality of webs 13 eX- tending transversely between the Walls of thechannel truss and having the several recesses 54 and cooperating holes54 located interme diate the webs for removably securing the switchmembers 10, 11 and 12 in spaced alinement on the center wall of thechannel truss. The spacing plug 43 is arranged to fit snugly providedwith suitable' holes through which the holding bolts 36 previouslyreferred to are passed. An additional bolt 4.4 is provided for morefirmly securing the plug 43 to the shaft 13 and at the same timefastening the auxiliary switch :mechanism t5 to the shaft..

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that.the contactor shaft 13 is provided withshoulders at each end with a central opening formed therein to receivethe pivotal bearing pins 46 which are secured to the supports letpreferably by riveting thereto. Wit-h the switch shaft 13 `formed ofmolded insulating material this which is secured at one end by the bolt28.

and preferably is provided with a buii'er 43 of a wear resisting andresilient material such as fiber. The stop 47 also vcarries the clamp 50which serves to hold the winding into one of the end pockets of shaft13. and

spool 24 securely seated u`pon the middle leg of the core 21. With thisconstruction the removal of the stop 47 by loosening the bolt 28 readilypermits the operating wlnding 23 to be removed for repair. v

The construction of the contact iin ers and of the magneticblowoutprovided or each pole of the cont-actor is shown more in* detail 1n Fi4. From this figure it will be seen that t e movable contact finger 51is carried in overlapping relation upon a su portingA arm 52 which is inthe form of a at metal strip and is removably secured at one end to theshaft 13 by the bolt 53. Preferably shallow channels as indicated bythedotted lines Y 54 in Fig. 3' are provided on the back side, of

the shaft.13 for anchorin theseveraly contact supporting arms 52. In tis way a single bolt strip with one end curved up to yao 53 serves tohold each supportlngarxn 52 in proper alignment on the shaft 13. Thecon? tact finger 51 also is formed from a metalv rovide a contact faceas shown in'Fig. 4.I T e contact linger 51v has a slot for receivin theguide 55 which is xedly secured near t e free end of arm 52 so as toproject at right angles thereto. The ide 55 is of non-circular crosssection an the slot 'in contact finger 51 vis of corres onding shape soasto prevent lrotation of t e finger about the guide. This yinsures'that the finger always is maintained the contact finger 51. Tomaintain the spring z 57 under compression,y the` cup shaped' washer 58is arranged to seat the outer end ofther spring 57. As lclearly shown inFig.`1 the` Washer 58 is provided with an-.elongated slot which permitsthe 'Tshaped end of the guider to pass `therethrough. Thereupon thewasher 58 may be given ahalf turn to bring the slot out of alignmentwith the Tv head of the guide 55. Preferably holding lugs- 59 arepunched up from the edges of the slot in the washer 58 so as topreventaccidental return `of the slotin the washer into alignment withthe T head of the guide 55. This interlocking arrangement permits lready re moval of the compression spring 57 as well as the contact 51from the guide 55 in case the contact 51 should become worn or damagedin service. The contact 51 is connected to the stationary terminal 59 bymeans.` of the flexible shunt or connector 60. o

The stationary contact 61 which cooperates with thecontact finger -51iny closingand opening the circuit controlled the contactor is removablymounted -upon the support 62 which serves as an arc horn and is securedat one end to the base 20 byj'the bolt 63. The

\ arc horn62 also is rigidlyl connected to one end of the blowout coil64 to support the same adjacent one side of the arc horn. The other endof the blowout coil is connected to theiterminal 654 from which the lineconductor 66 extends. It will be observed that arc horn 62 issubstantially of C shape. The arc horn 62 is of suilicient width asshown in Fig. 1 toy almost y 'completely' surround the blowout coil64.The

upper free end of the C-shaped arc horn 62 `is provided with an upturnedprojection `67.

The arc chute 68 is'arranged to be secured in position torestrict thearcpath by meansA of L y i, the curved por tion of the arc horn 62.Asshown in Fig. 1vv

the upturned finger v67an the aro chute 68` isforlned ofV aced, apartthe walls orming the arcL chute and the bolts which hold the wallsAtogether pass throu h these lugs. kThe interior surfaces of the VVWa ls'las walls of good insulating materia Suitable i spacing 1u s 69 and 70are interposed between v ooy forming the arc chute are each providedwith.;

a curvedshoulder 71 adjacent thelug 69.,

The relation of the lug`69k andthe curved shoulder 71` is such that thearc chute .fitsf snugly upon the curved portionfoi.` the arc horn 62with the upturnedprojection 567 thereon in. hookedv engagement `with thelugs 69 and extending betweenthef side `walls ofA the arc chute.Thusfthearc chute 68l isf; rmly vmaintained invitsv proper position toI@ receive' any arcr which may occur Aupon' the separation`of'thefcontact 51 from the contact 61. Furthermore the .Y member 62lservesi'to: support both the blowout coil 64 and the arc chute 68 andalso as an arc horn'extending entirely along one edge of the yarc chute.

The blowout iiux set u Vbythe coil ftljis conducted 'in the region' o?the arc bym'eans of'y the laminated lmagnetic lpole lpiecesf`71i whichextend fromv the magnetic, coreY passing through the blowoutmcoil 64. Asshown vin o, Figgl, the' laminated .polefpieces 71 extend on either sideof vthe arc'- chutel 68 adjacent to the pointof operation. of thecontacts l 51 and 61. In order to maintain the -pole pieces71, in theproperfoperating position,` r

is provided in orderto obtaina wider ydisthe guide 72 is securedtotheapo'le piecesl and if extends into a hole .73 provided inthe base20.

The upturned portion 7 4 of the polewpieces 120i tribution of theblowout flux through the arc-f i ing region.

With the arc chute constructedv as n' 1 12k-3":

it will be evident .that the arc chutefmay be readily liftedoutfofengagement with the support 62 as indicated in Fig. lthereb'yV exposingthe contact fingers '51 and thecontact 61 .for inspection and anyI'ieceSfSalSrv re.

The operation of the electroma etic switch just described will beapparent. pon energization of the operating windings 23 the movablearmature 22 is attracted into engagement with the frame 21 to rotate theshaft 13 and thereby close the switch' contacts. Upon deenergization ofthe operating winding 23 the out of balance weight of the armature 22and the finger springs insure a quick o ening of the switch. The blowoutcoils and arc chutes associated therewith insure the rapid disruption ofany arcs that may occur upon the separation of the contacts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A switch" shaft molded of insulating material in the form of achannel truss rovided with a plurality of webs exten ing r2.0transversely between the walls thereof and having means locatedintermediate the webs for removably securing a pluralityof switchelements in spaced apart alinement on thev center wall thereof.

25 2. A switch shaft molded of insulatin material in'substantiallychannel shape wit a plurality of webs extending `transversel between thewalls thereof and provided with slots and openings on one face thereoffor securing a plurality of switch elements in spaced alinement thereonand having cylindrical o nings, formed in opposite ends tilelof orrotatably supporting the switch 's a l 3. A contact device for electricswitches in` cluding a supporting strip having fastening means at oneend, a pivot pin intermediate the ends thereof, and a guide projectingfrom the other end thereof, saidguide having a. 40 T shaped end, acontact finger having a slot adapted to fit over said T shaped end intonon-rotatable sliding engagement with the guide, and a recess located in'cooperating relation with said pivot pin to form a pivot bearing, acoiled spring surrounding the' portion of said guide projectin throughAsaid slot for biasing the contact ger into pivotal engagement with thesupport, and a washer provided with an elongated slot. adapt- 50. ed tointerlock with the T shaped end of said guide for removably securing thespring 1n position.

. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day ofOctober, 1928.

' 55 EUGENE R. CARICHOFF.

